Gift giving at work

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

One of the managers at my husband’s work walks around the day before they leave for the holidays (or in the case of this year, the day before they all got laid off) and hands out gifts to all of the women. She isn’t even subtle about it, but loudly marches around, handing our gifts from the basket over her arm and saying “Merry Christmas” while giving each woman a hug. {{shudder}}.

My husband doesn’t like her, nor does anyone else that I know of that works there. She is a bully and loves to throw her weight around, but has been there forever and is related to the owners. Her son and daughter both work there also. Her son is almost universally disliked and her daughter’s nickname is Jabba the Hut. All of them have that sense of entitlement that comes from being related to the owners, knowing that you will never get let go unless you do something truly heinous, and all having worked there for many years.

All of the men just sort of stand there as what’s her face breezes on by. She doesn’t look at them or acknowledge them in any way. Every year this pisses off the guys. They don’t like her and don’t want gifts from her, but it’s just one more irritant in an already crappy workplace. Just imagine if a male manager got all of the men in a workplace gift cards and something to open, while all of the women weren’t even given a glance. The obvious prejudice of that would come to the attention of the owners, and that manager would have some 'splainen to do. Not so in this case. No one says a word because of who she is and who she’s related to.

Does anyone else deal with this at work?

2

Thankfully, as a federal employee, gifts in the workplace between bosses and employees don’t happen. The most I’ve seen actually in the office is when a specific group will put together a Secret Santa or swap just within their division. And even those swaps are the exception.

That woman at your husband’s work reminds me of my ex-sister-in-law. I don’t miss her in the least.

3

We have a general policy of “no gift giving in the workplace.” It causes too many problems, easier to get into than get out of, hurt feelings, etc.

If employees want to exchange gifts outside the office, fine.

4

Noone on my shift (only 4 of us) in my department do anything the other shifts do, so I am fortunate in that aspect.

My initial response would be to assume that you (and all of the other men <manager) would have a case against the company. But without legal training, experience, and specifics, I wouldnt have a clue where to begin.